Editing 40d:Dwarven weapon

{{av}}{{Quality|Exceptional}}
There are only 7 [[weapon]]s that dwarves can manufacture in [[Fortress mode]].  Although they can wield others (gained from dead [[invader]]s or [[trade]]), these seven are considered the "'''basic dwarven weapons'''", as opposed to [[other weapon]]s.  

:''In [[Adventure mode]], this distinction is nearly meaningless, as adventurers (dwarven or otherwise) don't need to manufacture their own weapons, and are not nearly as limited in what they can wield as in Fortress mode. (See [[weapon]] for a full discussion of the mechanics behind all weapons.)''

For melee combat, these are the...

:* '''[[#Battle axe|battle axe]]'''
:* '''[[#Mace|mace]]'''
:* '''[[#Pick|pick]]'''
:* '''[[#Short sword|short sword]]'''
:* '''[[#Spear|spear]]'''
:* '''[[#War hammer|war hammer]]'''  

...and also the '''[[crossbow]]''', which can be used for both ranged attacks and, if/when necessary, melee combat as well.  

Each of these weapons is governed by its own skill - [[axeman]] (aka "axedwarf") for axes, [[maceman]] skill for maces, etc. etc. - which also govern (most) [[other weapon]]s.  As with any weapon, both [[material]] and [[quality]] have an influence on their effectiveness in [[combat]].

All weapons can be manufactured at a [[metalsmith's forge]] by a dwarf with the [[weaponsmith]] [[labour]] enabled, and using that [[skill]], with one [[bar]] of a [[weapons-grade]] metal.  (Shortswords can also be made from [[obsidian]] with a [[wood]]en handle - see below.)


==Weapon Statistics==
{|cellpadding="2" border="1" class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Damage !! Damage Type !! Skill Used !! Crit. Boost 
|-
| Battle axe || 110 || [[Slash]] || Axe || none
|-
| Mace || 120 || [[Bludgeon]] || Mace || none
|-
| Pick || 70 || [[Pierce]] || Mining || +2
|-
| Short sword || 100 || [[Slash]] || Sword || +1
|-
| Spear || 100 || [[Pierce]] || Spear || +2
|-
| War hammer || 120 || [[Bludgeon]] || Hammer || none
|-
|-
| [[Crossbow]] (melee only)&dagger; || 70 || [[Bludgeon]] || Hammer || none
|-
| Crossbow [[bolt]] || 100 || [[Pierce]] || Marksdwarf || none
|}
&dagger; ''Dwarves wield weapon two-handed (set number of weapons to 2 in fort mode ({{k|v}}-{{k|p}}-{{k|s}}-{{k|m}}))''

==Melee weapons==
===Battle axe===
A '''battle axe''' is both a [[weapon]] and a tool for [[wood cutting]].  Without at least one battle axe, your fortress will be unable to cut down any [[tree]]s for [[wood]].  

They do [[slashing]] damage, which tends to sever limbs (or heads) on criticals. All axes are equally good at cutting down trees, but stronger metals or those of higher [[item quality]] will do more [[damage]] in [[combat]].

[[Wood cutter]]s who [[immigration|immigrate]] to your fort will often come with an axe of some type.  When [[starting build|starting a new fort]], however, you must decide whether or not to "buy" axes out of your starting points for your woodcutters (and early protection).  An alternative is to take the necessary raw materials and [[Make your own weapons|forge axes on site]]; this is ''much'' cheaper than buying the actual axe, if you are going to bring along the anvil anyway.  The only axes available on embark screen are steel ones, which are expensive at 300 starting-points each, and are only available as standard [[quality]] (the lowest).

Any [[dwarf]] that performs wood cutting will pick up an axe (if one is available) and not put it down until they are no longer assigned the Wood Cutting [[labor]], whether or not any trees are [[designate]]d for cutting.  You can make use of this to arm many (or all) of your non-[[military]] dwarves with axes, although if you do designate one or more trees for wood-cutting ({{key|d}}esignate {{key|t}}rees), all those dwarves will soon rush out to cut them down, or at least one per tree designated.

[[other weapon|Other, similar weapons]] are too large for dwarves to use in [[Fortress mode]].

=== Mace === 

Does the same [[damage]] as the war hammer, tied for the highest among these weapons. Uses the [[maceman]] skill.

Other, similar weapons that dwarves can use but not manufacture, and that are governed by this same skill, include the [[Other_weapon#Morningstar|morningstar]].


=== Pick === 

A '''pick''' is a tool used by [[dwarves]] to [[mining|mine]] areas you have designated for mining.  Dwarves without picks cannot mine.  Picks can be made from [[copper]], [[bronze]], [[bismuth bronze]], [[iron]], [[steel]] or [[adamantine]].  The [[material]] used only affects the weight of the pick and the damage it deals when used in combat; mining speed and product are not affected by material nor quality of the pick.

[[Miner]]s can use picks as [[weapon]]s using their mining skill.  Only a dwarf who is set to fight "unarmed" and who has the [[mining]] [[labour]] enabled will use one in combat (retrieving one if one is available).  Picks may appear (and are) weaker than proper weapons like spears or axes, but are still amply effective in the hands of a highly skilled miner.

Picks can be obtained through [[trade]] with [[Dwarves]] or [[Human]]s, can be created at a [[Metalsmith's forge]] by a dwarf with the [[Weaponsmithing]] labor enabled, and are also available on the Fortress Mode embarkation screen.

=== Short sword === 

The '''short sword''' does [[slashing]] damage, which tends to sever limbs (or heads) on criticals.

Other, similar weapons that dwarves can use but not manufacture, and that are governed by this same skill, include the [[Other_weapon#Long_sword|long sword]] and [[Other_weapon#Scimitar|scimitar]].

==== Stone short sword ====
Stone short swords can be made from [[obsidian]] at a [[Craftsdwarf's workshop]], and make a great alternate weapon if you are short on [[Weapon#Material_damage_modifiers|weapons-grade metal]]s. 

These deal the same damage as [[steel]], so they are extremely useful for early military and [[trap]]s. However, they require one unit of [[wood]] and one unit of [[obsidian]] in their construction, which may not be available in abundance on many maps. They are produced with the [[Stonecrafter]] skill, not [[Weaponsmith]], and are produced in a Craftsdwarf's workshop.

Unwanted low quality short swords can be assigned to weapon [[trap]]s, which can hold up to 10 of any combination of weapons each.

According to [[Main:Toady One|Toady One]], the weapons are supposed to wear very quickly but this functionality has not yet been implemented.

''(These seem to be based on Aztec [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macuahuitl Macuahuitl.] The weapons are described as being clubs with a sharp stone edge affixed to the side.)''

=== Spear === 

'''Spears''' do [[piercing]] damage, which tends to destroy organs (if the opponent has any) on criticals.  A spear's critical boost is tied with the highest of any melee weapon, making them potentially quite lethal. Spears are more likely to get stuck in enemies than [[sword]]s. They are also less likely to dismember enemies, leaving fewer [[Chunk|body parts]] for the [[dwarf]]s to clean up. 

Against extra large, living [[creature]]s (with internal organs), a spear is often a best choice because it can kill an opponent with a lucky blow where another weapon would only break or sever a limb.

Occasionally [[elf|elven]] traders may have [[wood]]en spears to sell.

Besides the usual weapons traps, spears can also be used in [[Trap|upright spear traps]].

[[Other_weapon#Pike|Other, similar weapons]] are too large for dwarves to use in [[Fortress mode]].

=== War hammer === 

A '''war hammer''' is a hammer designed for combat purposes, and uses the [[Hammerdwarf]] skill.

War hammers deal a base damage of 120, the highest of the basic dwarven weapons. They deal [[bludgeon]]ing damage, and therefore have a higher chance of breaking body parts, and a low (if any) chance of severing limbs on direct hits, though a solid hit can easily propel an enemy into an obstacle with such force that it will be blown apart, scattering limbs everywhere. They have a Critical boost stat of 0, as compared to 1 for [[Short sword]]s and 2 for [[Spear]]s, which means that they are not as likely to create such injuries as some other weapons.

War hammers are also used by the [[Hammerer]] to dispense [[justice]].

[[Other_weapon#Maul|Other, similar weapons]] are too large for dwarves to use in [[Fortress mode]].


== Crossbow ==

The crossbow has a range of 20 tiles, and is quite deadly against any creature with internal organs.  Missile accuracy is improved only by the quality of the weapon (not the material), but damage is based on the quality and material of the bolt.  If a [[marksdwarf]] is pressed to fight hand-to-hand with an opponent, they will use their crossbow as a [[bludgeon]] weapon using the [[hammerdwarf]] skill, and only then do both quality ''and'' material of the crossbow come in to play.

See [[crossbow]] for a complete discussion.


'''See also:'''
:*[[military]]
:*[[quality]]

{{Category|Weapons}}
{{Category|Military}}